Florida’s drought conditions raise concerns about water storage | Opinion

For millions of South Florida residents, our dry season has been just that: dry — really dry. The majority of South Florida has experienced continuous months of drought conditions — from moderate, to severe, and recently, extreme in certain areas of Palm Beach and Broward counties according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The lack of frontal systems moving consistently further south, in combination with warmer temperatures accelerating evaporation haven’t helped. Though a strong system brought inches of much-needed rain earlier in May, it did little to improve drought conditions: The latest report continues to show severe drought conditions throughout South Florida, and it hasn’t rained since. This current drought has even sparked a series of wildfires over the last month.

However, these dry times do offer us an opportunity to broadly reflect on our water supply — and why protecting it should remain at the forefront of South Florida’s agenda.

Too many people don’t worry about our water because they assume it will always be there. In fact, a number of water management policies over the last several years have made some of us wonder if even our political and policy leaders assume that water will always be available for both consumers and the environment. Of course, this isn’t the case — and knowing our local history is particularly useful in providing us with the answer.

For example, in 2008, Palm Beach County suffered from a severe drought that created a series of environmental challenges. Strict orders were given to the public on how much water to use — and when. The typical lush greenery that South Florida is known for was dry and brown. Businesses — from golf courses to car washes to farms — all faced restrictions that impacted their operations. Local fire departments faced challenges that threatened the water pressure they require for emergency services. And our environment suffered, too. Lake Okeechobee, as an example, dropped to levels that left it dry and unserviceable.

It is true that we are not currently experiencing this scenario — yet. But such a time will likely come again, in keeping with the cyclical nature of our weather. And when it does, there should be concerns about how the water in our South Florida communities will be impacted.

First, water management policies over the last decade and a half have changed — some quite recently. Legal protections to the water that South Florida communities depend on are no longer in place in the same way they once had been. Additionally, our backup water supply resources like Lake Okeechobee are now under new operational schedules that not only manage water away from users who need it, but fail to conserve water for drier times like we are experiencing now.

Second, South Florida’s population has seen surges in growth since the pandemic. Each year brings new residents, and each new resident becomes a new water user. This can be a strain on our system, which makes managing the water we have even more critical for the future.

Lastly, an increasingly unpredictable environment is forcing us to become more creative and forward-thinking with protecting the water that we have. We should be urging our policymakers to accelerate the development and application of water supply alternatives — most especially those that help increase our ability to store water so that communities and stakeholders in our area are ready for any number of environmental conditions that may arise over time. This is especially critical considering that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued water supply warnings for the state as recently as last year.

It is impractical and irresponsible to hope that one disaster — like a major hurricane — delivers us from another one, like a prolonged and extreme drought. Instead, let’s work together to protect, conserve and smartly manage our water for the generations to come.

Ryan Rossi is director of the South Florida Water Coalition.